According to the Daily Star, the Red Devils will stall on a deal for Depay, as they look to try and lure Bale from the Santiago Bernabeu to Old Trafford – which is their priority in the next transfer window.

As a result, the Star report, this could see the PSV Eindhoven winger head to Liverpool while Manchester United prepare an offer for the Wales international.

Louis van Gaal wants to make Real Madrid’s record-signing his marquee summer signing, as the Premier League giants look to post a message of intent ahead of a likely return to Champions League football next term – following two disappointing seasons without Sir Alex Ferguson.

Predictably, however, the former Tottenham Hotspur winger will be much more difficult to sign than Depay, and the Spanish giants have insisted that they have no interest in selling.

Nonetheless, goalkeeper David de Gea could make the difference in the negotiations, as Los Blancos have reportedly earmarked the Spaniard as the stopper they want to replace Iker Casillas.

Depay is more likely to make the switch to the Premier League having recently said that, “It is a dream to make a transfer with such a big impact,” and “It would be great to go to one of the big competitions this summer,” as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.